Hotel performance has been robust until the summer in Israel, where hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the beaches surrounding Tel Aviv. Continued growth is anticipated in subsequent years. However, recent violence likely will soften demand as travelers planning to visit for the holiday season will be watching for signals of stability and security.

Damascus, an ancient transit place in the region, has seen travel and tourism emerge as an important part of its economy. In 2010, tourism contribution in the GDP represented 6.2% but… is expected to continue to drop by an additional 20.4% by the end of 2012…according to the WTTC.

Jordan’s hotel market, which had experienced a RevPAR performance decline mainly during 2011, has since seen a recovering trend.